Smiths Detection uses its screening technology to help combat COVID-19
Robust and accurate COVID-19 antibody-testing device
Attomarker is a multiplex blood-testing technology company established at the University of Exeter. The Smiths Detection team worked alongside Attomarker on the design and performance of a COVID-19 antibody testing device that could represent an evolution in rapid and precise COVID-19 antibody testing. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved Attomarker’s Triple Antibody Test for NHS use in the UK.
Attomarker’s Triple Antibody Test device is a portable, desktop, antibody-testing device designed to provide laboratory-standard results in any environment. It delivers rapid, accurate, quantitative results in just seven minutes – compared with up to 72 hours for tests that require to be sent away for laboratory analysis.
The result of a trial at St Thomas’ Hospital in London shows that the Attomarker Triple Antibody Test delivers a sensitivity of up to 96% in detecting COVID-19 antibodies, including in patients who have previously presented false negatives. This is a significant improvement on recently announced tests, which range between 83.9% - 93.9% - though not with real world patients.
The Smiths Detection team was able to take the current designs of the existing product and make enhancements that contributed not only to its improved performance and robustness, but also improvements to supply chain, manufacturing and quality enabling the team to ramp up volume according to demand.
Improving safety at aviation security with ultraviolet light
A study showed that baggage trays at security checkpoints have the highest levels of pathogens of any other surface in an airport.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to support hygiene improvements at airport security screening, Smiths Detection developed a proprietary ultraviolet (UV-C) light tray disinfection kit capable of killing 99.9% of bacteria and virus-carrying micro- organisms, including coronavirus. The kits can be installed into any tray return system, regardless of vendor.
Trials are currently taking place at an airport in each of Asia Pacific and Europe and results have proven the solution’s ability to destroy micro-organisms.
A specially designed casing and other safety measures mean the UV-C lights pose no exposure risk to staff or passengers and can be installed quickly and easily into existing systems. Demonstrating greater hygiene standards will be important as airports seek to restore the confidence of travellers and staff during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bioflash rapidly detects airborne SARS-COV-2 and its variants
BioFlash® Biological Identifier is capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 and other variants in the air following tests conducted by the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).
The BioFlash® Biological Identifier is powered by CANARY® technology (a cell-based biosensor) and is combined with proprietary aerosol-collection techniques to provide rapid, sensitive and specific identification of biological-threat agents including viruses, toxins and bacteria.
BioFlash can detect down to an estimated 6,000 airborne infectious particles of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants within a controlled environment. This compares to as many as one million particles emitted in a single sneeze by a person infected with SARS-CoV-2. The test results also indicate no cross-reactivity with influenza and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), an important consideration for environmental monitoring of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Not only can BioFlash detect COVID-19 and its variants and identify the presence of low levels of the vius, it can be used by anyone, giving them immediate results, in minutes not days.
